TWO games into Watford’s campaign, an old adage is being borne out: where there’s a Will, there’s a way.

The Hornets have started the season with a bang, impressing with slick attacking football and picking up maximum points.

One of the men leading the charge is Will Hughes (above), whose stunning long-range goal capped an all-action performance against Burnley last weekend.

Sean Dyche went claret in the face complaining about the midfielder’s tackling in that game, but his own manager singled him out for all the right reasons ahead of this weekend’s clash against Crystal Palace.

Javi Gracia is delighted to have Hughes fit and firing after an injury-plagued 2017/18 and is even backing the 23-year-old to gate-crash the England squad if he maintains his form.

“I think he’s ready,” said Gracia when asked about Hughes’ Three Lions credentials.

“I knew from the first day I saw him that he was different. He’s a special player, with great quality in all the details.”

It is appropriate that Hughes has Gracia as manager, because there are similarities between him and some of the Premier League’s top Spanish midfield imports: the low centre of gravity, the patient passing, the vision.

He’s the Surrey Silva, the Mata of the M25.

England news: Will Hughes's positive start to the season could earn him and England call-up (Image: Getty)

“When you see Will, you can see he’s the strongest physically,” Gracia continued. “But he’s a clever player: he can see the spaces and you can see his quality in every touch. He’s a good passer and has a good shot on him, as he showed against Burnley.”

Hughes is versatile, too, which has helped Gracia find a winning formula despite a few absentees.

“Last season he played many times as a second forward, behind the striker, but this season he’s operating more from the right,” added the Spaniard.

“It’s a good position for him. With his qualities, he can come inside and play. We have a right-footed player on the left [Roberto Pereyra] and a left-footed player on the right, and this gives us a good balance.”